- Hardcover: 984 pages
- Publisher: Random House Reference; 1 edition (Sep 2 1997)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 067943464X
- ISBN-13: 978-0679434641
- Product Dimensions: 29.1 x 22.6 x 3.9 cm
- Shipping Weight: 2 Kg
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #547,334 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Library Journal
In 1947 Random House launched its first dictionary, the celebrated American College Dictionary. Today, half a century later, the publisher is recognized as one of the premier lexicographic houses in North America, noted for its careful attention to new vocabulary, both standard and nonstandard. Fittingly, Random House marks its 50th anniversary in the dictionary business with these two major publications, both of which will be familiar to librarians. Volume 2 (H-O) of the slang dictionary, which adds about 10,000 main entries to the corpus, maintains the impressive quality that distinguished Volume 1 (LJ 8/94). The final volume (Q-Z) is scheduled for publication in 2000. This is simply the best slang dictionary ever compiled, and all but the smallest public and academic libraries should have it. The College Dictionary, a descendant of the aforementioned American College Dictionary, first appeared under its current title six years ago (LJ 6/15/91). The new edition is a thorough update, offering first-rate coverage and treatment of American English as used in the mid-1990s. For instance, "chat room" is here, as is the latest connotation of "closure." It competes well with other dictionaries in its class, including Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (LJ 9/1/93) and the American Heritage College Dictionary (1993. 3d ed.). Essential for most collections.?Ken Kister, author of "Best Encyclopedias," Tampa, Fla.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
"A landmark publication, at one stroke sweeping its predecessors into the shade . . . It is one of those rare books that prompts the realization that you have never seen the subject in such sharp focus before."
--John A. Simpson, Chief Editor, Oxford English Dictionary
"A monumental book."
--The New York Times
"Will do for nonstandard English what the Oxford English Dictionary did for the whole language".
--William Safire
"No one has ever created a scholarly work that is more fun."
--Newsweek
"The funniest . . . work of profound lexicographical slang-scholarship ever published . . . The book belongs on every patriotice coffee table."
--Nicholson Baker, The New Review of Books
"A browser's joy . . . an awesome tribute to the American popular imagination."
--Boston Globe
--John A. Simpson, Chief Editor, Oxford English Dictionary
"A monumental book."
--The New York Times
"Will do for nonstandard English what the Oxford English Dictionary did for the whole language".
--William Safire
"No one has ever created a scholarly work that is more fun."
--Newsweek
"The funniest . . . work of profound lexicographical slang-scholarship ever published . . . The book belongs on every patriotice coffee table."
--Nicholson Baker, The New Review of Books
"A browser's joy . . . an awesome tribute to the American popular imagination."
--Boston Globe
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
SNAFU AT RANDOM HOUSE,
By Settimio Biondi (ITALY) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Volume II, H-O (Hardcover)
Yes, a big SNAFU took place at Random House. In the unlikely case you guys don't know what SNAFU means, you could always look it up in the Random House Dictionary of American Slang. Unfortunately the third volume (containing entries under S) has not yet been published, so you must ask a learned fried to find out what the meaning of this expression is. But if you already own the first two volumes you are likely to be as disappointed (mild euphemism) as I am. Can anybody (maybe Random House itself?) tell or predict if and when the third volume will be published?Men, this story is a true pain where you don't tell the ladies.
1.0 out of 5 stars
Volume III ???,
By
This review is from: Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Volume II, H-O (Hardcover)
I think by the time volume III is published (if ever), volumes I and II will be obsolete and out of print. I suckered myself into thinking all three volumes were in print when I bought the first two. This baloney about volume III has been going on since 1997. The set is worthless without volume III and don't even deserve the one star I gave it. I think Random House did not do us any favors by publishing the dictionary before it was complete.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Is the wait coming to an end?,
By A Customer
This review is from: Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Volume II, H-O (Hardcover)
This is an indispensible book for writers and for anyone who loves words, but only if you're looking for something from A to O, since Random House dumped the project. Hope may be on the horizon, though. As reported in William Safire's On Lanuguage column (NYT Mag. 6/29/03), the National Endowment for the Humanities came up with a grant of $325,000 over two years to keep J.E. Lighter's project going, and Oxford University Press picked up the challenge. Oxford is now working out the contract details with Random House.
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